Transylvania University political scientist Michael Cairo is the opening speaker in this year’s Far Away Places series. He’ll be speaking on Thursday, September 19, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. at Barnes & Noble Bookstore (1680 Campbell Lane) about his new book The Gulf: The Bush Presidencies and the Middle East published recently by the University Press of Kentucky and about recent events in the Middle East. A book signing will follow.

Michael Cairo

Cairo is a native of Clifton Park near Saratoga, New York. Growing up he had ambitions to save the world but shifted these to focus on a career in International Relations. After an MA and PhD in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia, he’s taught political science at Virginia Commonwealth University, Southern Illinois University, the University of Kentucky and Georgetown College. In 2010 he joined the faculty of Transylvania University as an Associate Professor.

His interest in the Middle East stems from his interest in building understanding across cultures and he has visited Israel and Palestine most recently in July 2012 and May 2013. His newest project is a second book focusing on U.S.- Israeli Relations.